Texas Scorches A’s For Second Time

Less than one week after the Texas Rangers beat Oakland by 7, Texas routs them again with a 14-5 win.

The Texas Rangers remained in Surprise on Saturday to play their AL West rival, the Oakland Athletics, for the second time this week. The first meeting resulted in Texas laying it on the A’s with a 10-3 blowout in which the Ranger bats came alive. That mojo was still evident this Saturday as the Rangers routed Oakland once again in a 14-5 win that wasn’t close past the third inning.

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Phil Klein made the start for the Texas Rangers, making his third appearance of the Spring Training season. Coming into the game, Klein had thrown 2.1 innings for Texas giving up 3 runs on 6 hits and striking out 4. On Saturday, Klein rebounded with a shutout appearance throwing 2.2 innings giving up just 2 hits and striking out 3 batters. Klein, who is battling for a spot in the bullpen, could use a few more outings like these are he tries to make his case to be on the Opening Day roster.

Out of the bullpen, Tom Wilhelmsen, who is expected to be in the back end of the Rangers bullpen, threw the sixth inning for Texas and set down the Athletics in order. Reliever Chad Smith, threw 1.1 innings for Texas  and struck out 2 while finishing up the ninth inning.

Veteran Adrian Beltre had a good day at the plate going 2-3 and hitting his first homerun of Spring Training. He drove in 4 of the Texas’ 14 runs Saturday, with a good approach at the plate. Prospect Nomar Mazara kept his bat hot as well going 1-2 and drove in a run after replacing Ian Desmond in left field.

All in all, the Rangers did a good job capitalizing on the Athletics mistake going 5-16 with runners in scoring position and taking advantage of Oakland’s 5 errors.

Injury Report

Shawn Tolleson was supposed to make an appearance in a Rangers B game on Friday but was instead transitioned into throwing batting practice.

Up Next

Sunday, the Texas Rangers will take on another AL West team, the LA Angels, at 2:05pm, with Derek Holland making the start on the mound.

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